Do Students Learn in Different Styles?

This belief is based off the topic of differentiated instruction.  Although this question is a very broad and bold educational belief that can be answered in a multitude of ways, there is much evidence behind the fact that every student does not learn the same way, as well as researches, studies, and tests done to answer this question over a span many years dating back to when education started.  It doesn't take researching, testing, or studying to answer this question; however, it does help, but I think the best way to answer this is through a teacher’s personal experiences with his/her students.  I will reflect on my own personal experience with students I've had, and also be conducting some research on this topic.  

I may not be a "certified teacher" yet, but I have had more than enough experience to understand that differentiation is relevant in education.  In short, differentiated instruction is the idea that different students are provided with different avenues of learning in terms of acquiring knowledge.  Through my few years of experience in Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), vastly made up of a diverse population of students, coming from different socio-economic status', backgrounds, and ethnicity.  If I have 23 students in my class, then I more than likely have 23 different ways I will connect with each student to effectively deliver the content across the student's mind.  Every student has their own special needs when it comes to learning.  Some students need more attention (one-on-one) than others, some student's require feedback every time an activity or assignment is done correctly.  I've discovered that this information can be acquired through the students CA 60 file (every student has one).  It can even go as easy to say that students learn better from lectures, readings, videos, or even audios.  (McCarthy, 2014) It’s impossible to teach a lesson to every student the same way.  Yes, you might do a lesson for the whole class, but within that lesson you learn to modify certain parts of the lesson based on the situation at hand.

"During the 1900s, educators talked about individualizing instruction. In the 21st century, the politically correct term is "differentiated instruction." Differentiated instruction should be implemented in a way that does not change what is taught but rather changes how it is taught." (Aldridge, 2010) I like the way Aldridge explains differentiated instruction.  He goes in great depth about developing instruction within this article and addresses the considerations of the students cultural, familial, and personal characteristics.  Another article I found talked about learning styles, explaining that there is no such thing as "learning styles." (Paul, B. A., 2013) Within that article by Paul, B. A., Reiner and Willingham argue, "There is no credible evidence that learning styles exist." (Reiner, Willingham, 2010.) They agree with the fact that students learn differently and acquire content in a multitude of ways, but not through learning styles.  Many educators and parents believe that students have a preferred mode to learn.  Reiner and Willingham continue with their argument, "While students do have preferences about how they learn, the evidence shows they absorb information just as well whether or not they encounter it in their preferred mode."  At first I thought this article by Paul, B. A. was disagreeing with the fact that differentiated instruction exists.  In the article "Do Students Really Have Different Learning Styles," she explains, although there are no learning styles teachers shouldn't present/teach information to students in one fashion.  "The “learning style” that teachers and parents should focus on is the universal learning style of the human mind." (Paul, B. A., 2013) This speaks a lot truth about the concept of differentiated instruction because every students mind works differently.

I'm sure based on everything I have said above clearly shows that I agree with the fact that students learn in different ways.  I've found some information to be more clear now that I've done research on differentiated instruction and learning styles, but I don't think anyone will ever be able to change my mind on this subject.  Furthermore, I don't know that I will ever come across a Professional Educator that doesn't support this belief.  If I were to come across a colleague that believes students learn the same way, I would simply ask him/her to analyze and assess their students individually after teaching a topic.  I would bring up my own experiences, as well as share my research with them.  I believe this topic is important and every teacher should know how to effectively teach a diverse group of students.  Any school you teach in will be diverse in some way, which is what I love about education.

Aldridge, Jerry. "Differentiated instruction." Childhood Education 86.3 (2010): 193+. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.

McCarthy, J. (2014). 3 Ways to Plan for Diverse Learners: What Teachers Do. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-ways-to-plan-john-mccarthy

Paul, B. A. (2013, April 13). Do Students Really Have Different Learning Styles? Retrieved September 28, 2016, from https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/04/13/do-students-have-different-learning-styles/

Reiner, C., & Wellingham, D. (2010). The Myth of Learning Styles. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.changemag.org/Archives/Back Issues/September-October 2010/the-myth-of-learning-full.html